Nel was speaking in the town of Mitchell's Plain during a child protection week event.

Residents and community organisations in the area gathered to discuss child safety, cyber bullying, child trafficking and crimes affecting the youth. Nel says preventative measures are needed to deter children from joining gangs.

“I had a long long discussion with principals who literally have their hands full with gang members circulating in the vicinity of the school trying to push drugs. Gangs are having fights in the vicinity of schools. Children having to pass through those gang areas to school and on the way home. The rate of recruitment of children to form part of gangs has increased in the last couple of years,” Nel said.

--SABC--